EIT Health appoints Alexander von Gabain Supervisory Board Chairman

EIT Health, a member of the EIT-supported Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), is delighted to announce the appointment of Alexander von Gabain as new Chairman of the Supervisory Board. He follows Koenraad Debackere, who has been chairing the Supervisory Board of EIT Health since its implementation in Spring 2015. Koenraad Debackere played a pivotal role in enabling operations orchestrating the innovation network of leading European private and public partners from the healthcare arena. The partners are joined to address the societal challenge of supporting European citizens and patients with innovative and entrepreneurial products, services and concepts to allow an improved healthy life and active ageing.

Alexander von Gabain has a successful track record with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), serving as Chairman of the founding Governing Board during its build-up phase. Now he will serve EIT Health as independent Chairman, taking a board seat designed not to be connected to any of the partners, while Koenraad Debackere will continue providing his strong expertise as a member and Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board.

Alexander von Gabain said: “I feel extremely honored by the EIT Health’s Partners’ Assembly and the Supervisory Board for their trust to appoint me as Chairman of the Supervisory Board. In only two years, the EIT Health consortium has successfully created a strong platform shaping a convincing innovation ecosystem that interconnects the knowledge triangle (education, R&D and entrepreneurship), driven by customers’ needs. It is a challenge and a chance for all of us to combine with synergy our broad variety of best in-class competences and faculties throughout Europe, so we can target healthcare innovation with the aim of improving the quality of life on our continent. I’m proud to be allowed to participate in the journeys taking students to entrepreneurship, lab work to customers